Govt information and OSHA Right to Know: what employers must share
“OSHA Right to Know” is a common way workers describe their legal right to receive hazard information about chemicals they may be exposed to at work. In practice, this “right to know” is delivered through federal info requirements in OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), 29 CFR 1910.1200, which mandates how employers classify chemical hazards, label containers, provide Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and train employees.
When employees ask for govt information or “info government” about chemical hazards, the fastest path is often not a government database—it’s your workplace’s SDS library, labeling system, and documented training program that are built to meet OSHA’s rules.
The federal framework behind “Right to Know”
OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard is the primary federal rule that turns “Right to Know” into enforceable workplace duties. Under 29 CFR 1910.1200, employers must ensure that:
- Hazardous chemicals are classified (hazard determination)
- Containers are labeled with required elements
- A compliant SDS is available for each hazardous chemical
- Workers receive effective information and training
- A written Hazard Communication Program is maintained
This is “federal info” in action: instead of workers hunting for govt information elsewhere, the employer is required to bring accurate hazard details directly to the jobsite.
OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) in plain terms
OSHA’s HCS aligns with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) approach to hazard communication. This matters because it standardizes the format and content of labels and SDS, making it easier for workers to recognize risks and protective measures quickly.
Key regulatory items include:
- Written program: employers must describe how labels, SDS access, and training are handled (29 CFR 1910.1200(e))
- Labels and warnings: containers must be labeled; workplace labels must convey required hazard information (29 CFR 1910.1200(f))
- Safety Data Sheets: SDS must be readily accessible to employees in their work area during each work shift (29 CFR 1910.1200(g))
- Information and training: training at initial assignment and when new hazards are introduced (29 CFR 1910.1200(h))
What “govt information” should look like at your workplace
Employees often interpret “govt information” as something posted online by an agency. But OSHA compliance expects employers to provide hazard information in specific, usable formats where work happens.
1) Safety Data Sheets (SDS): the core right-to-know document
The SDS is the most direct “Right to Know” tool. OSHA requires that SDS be readily accessible—not locked away, not only available from a supervisor “when they have time,” and not dependent on a single person’s email account.
SDS are standardized into 16 sections (GHS format), including:
- Identification and recommended use
- Hazard(s) identification
- Composition/information on ingredients
- First-aid measures
- Handling/storage, exposure controls/PPE
- Physical/chemical properties and stability/reactivity
Important: If employees can’t quickly access the SDS during the shift, you risk violating 29 CFR 1910.1200(g)—even if you “have the SDS somewhere.”
2) Labels and pictograms: fast hazard recognition
Container labels are another form of “info government” implemented at the workplace level. Under the HCS, shipped container labels generally include:
- Product identifier
- Signal word
- Hazard statement(s)
- Precautionary statement(s)
- Pictograms
- Supplier identification
For secondary containers (like spray bottles), workplace labeling must still communicate hazard information effectively. When labeling is inconsistent, workers lose the quick hazard cues that the federal system is designed to provide.
3) Employee training and your written program
OSHA requires training that covers both the details of your hazard communication program and the specific chemical hazards in the work area (29 CFR 1910.1200(h)). That includes how to read labels and SDS, what protective measures to use, and how employees can obtain hazard information.
Your written Hazard Communication Program (29 CFR 1910.1200(e)) should spell out practical procedures, such as:
- Where SDS are stored and how they are accessed
- How workplace labeling is performed
- How new chemicals are reviewed before introduction
- How you maintain the chemical inventory
Where workers and employers can find federal info
While the SDS and labels are the primary “Right to Know” tools, federal and state resources are still useful for broader context.
Helpful government and agency sources (as supplements)
- OSHA guidance documents and interpretations related to 29 CFR 1910.1200
- NIOSH and CDC resources on exposure limits and protective measures
- EPA resources for certain chemical programs (where applicable)
These can support your program, but they don’t replace the employer’s duty to maintain on-site (or readily accessible) SDS and training documentation.
Common Right-to-Know compliance gaps (and how to prevent them)
Even organizations with good intentions can fall short. Here are frequent issues that undermine “govt information” access in real workplaces:
- Outdated SDS kept in binders and never reviewed when suppliers change formulations
- SDS stored in a system employees can’t access on the floor (e.g., one office computer)
- Missing SDS for infrequently used products (cleaners, lubricants, aerosols)
- Poorly controlled secondary container labeling
- Chemical inventory not aligned with what is actually on site
- Training that is generic and not tied to the specific hazards in the work area
A practical fix: connect SDS access, inventory, and training
“Right to Know” works best when SDS management, chemical inventory, and training reinforce each other. That’s where a dedicated platform can reduce gaps and improve response time during inspections and emergencies.
How SwiftSDS supports OSHA Right to Know and SDS management
SwiftSDS is built to help employers operationalize “Right to Know” by making critical hazard information easy to maintain and easy for workers to access.
With SwiftSDS, you can:
- Maintain a centralized SDS library in a secure, cloud-based location
- Support OSHA HCS compliance with organized SDS access aligned to 29 CFR 1910.1200(g)
- Use GHS support to keep hazard communication consistent with standardized SDS/label elements
- Improve visibility through chemical inventory management (locations, quantities, expiration dates)
- Enable rapid access via mobile devices, so workers can pull SDS information during a shift without hunting for a binder
When employees request govt information, SwiftSDS helps ensure that the most relevant “federal info” for their immediate safety—SDS, hazards, and protective measures—is available quickly and consistently.
Building a Right-to-Know program that holds up
To strengthen OSHA Right to Know compliance, focus on these fundamentals:
- Keep a current chemical inventory for each work area.
- Verify an SDS is available for every hazardous chemical.
- Ensure SDS are readily accessible during each shift (not “available upon request later”).
- Maintain labeling systems for shipped and secondary containers.
- Train employees at assignment and when hazards change—and document it.
- Audit the system periodically to catch missing SDS and unlabeled containers.
If you need a starting point for organizing your documentation and access procedures, see SDS Management.
Call to action
If your teams rely on scattered binders, shared drives, or “ask the supervisor” to find hazard details, it’s time to modernize your OSHA Right to Know process. SwiftSDS makes SDS access, chemical inventory tracking, and GHS-aligned hazard communication easier to manage—so the right information is available when workers need it.
Explore SwiftSDS and streamline your Hazard Communication program today: Request a demo.